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The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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The situation of children affected by HIV/AIDS in Southwest China: Schooling, physical health, and interpersonal relationships

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Xu, T., Z. Wu, et al. (2010). "The situation of children affected by HIV/AIDS in Southwest China: Schooling, physical health, and interpersonal relationships." Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 53(SUPPL. 1): S104-S110.

Objective: To investigate the schooling, physical health and interpersonal relationships of children affected by HIV/AIDS in rural areas of southwest China.

Methods: Using a structured survey, quantitative data were collected on a total of 116 children and 114 of their caregivers.

Results: Parental illness or death adversely affected children's school attendance and school performance. Over one-third (36.2%) of children reported being ill for more than 3 days during the previous 6 months; more orphans were hospitalized during the latest illness than nonorphans, although the difference was not statistically significant. One-third (33.6%) of children were aware that their parents were HIV positive. Ten percent of orphans reported that their relationships with peers became worse after parental illness or death, which was significantly higher than nonorphans. Twenty-five percent of orphans reported they were teased by others compared with 1.9% of nonorphans.

Conclusions: HIV infection has impacted negatively on the children in terms of education, health, and peer association. These findings can be used as preliminary data supporting intervention strategies and activities to improve the general welfare of children affected by HIV/AIDS in China.